Jack Kerouac

Every stranger's face Flashes past In a split-second glance.

Hitch-hiking demands patience.

Gypsies and angels make Good newspaper copy.

That's all forgotten now — Keep moving.

The books — anthologies Of broken images — Nothing holds up anymore.

Railroads have dignity But I outwalked The Southern Pacific tracks More than once….

Each step easier In the brush and gravel.

Keep moving — slowly it gets Less painful.

The river I passed on The way — the oil and tar Of a wrecked artery — Still courses desperately Homeward.